CHULA VISTA, CALIF. — Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy sued the city and four councilmembers in San Diego Superior Court, alleging defamation, invasion of privacy and harassment. The suit names the city, City Manager Tiffany Allen, and councilmembers Michael Inzunza, Cesar Fernandez, Carolina Chavez and Jose Preciado as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges that Allen used an off-duty incident as a pretext to reprimand Kennedy and launched a retaliatory investigation. It further alleges that a councilmember was secretly vetting a younger Latino law-enforcement official in a nearby jurisdiction to replace Kennedy, and that tactics against her included making her job "miserable by fabricating allegations of wrongdoing" and launching a "retaliatory investigation." According to the lawsuit, Kennedy's working conditions were "so miserable that a reasonable person would deem the environment too hostile, oppressive, and toxic to remain." The suit also alleges violations of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and other laws.

In a statement, the city said: "The City categorically denies the allegations and will vigorously defend against them in court. The City is confident the truth will show that no wrongdoing occurred." The city has denied the allegations and said the alleged conspiracy to oust Kennedy was "entirely false." The city said it did not vote to approve two claims Kennedy filed in March and that the claims have been denied by operation of law.

Kennedy, 65, has been with the Chula Vista Police Department for 33 years and has served as police chief since 2016, making her the longest-serving police chief in the region. She has been on medical leave since late January. Her attorney, Cory Briggs, said she continues to receive a paycheck but has been locked out of her email, personnel information and wage statement. He said the city did not respond to the March claims.

"She loves the community she serves, and she is disappointed that the city's leadership has treated her with disrespect and contempt," Briggs said. District Attorney Summer Stephan and former San Diego U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer spoke in support of Kennedy at recent City Council meetings.

According to the lawsuit, an incident at a police union holiday party last December was used as a pretext to take action against Kennedy. Briggs said an officer took off his shirt in a faux striptease during a dance-off for a raffle prize, Kennedy put dollar bills in the officer's pockets, and the action elicited cheers. More than five weeks after the incident, Allen reprimanded Kennedy, according to the lawsuit, which also alleges that around the same time Allen disclosed confidential information about Kennedy to a person outside the city.

The lawsuit does not name Mayor John McCann, and Briggs said he has no reason to believe McCann was involved in the alleged actions. McCann's office declined to comment. Inzunza and Preciado declined to comment on Wednesday, and Fernandez and Chavez did not respond to a request for comment.